Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



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w. A. GEIGER 13111011011 SHOCK Asomj MEQMNISM lOriginal Filed Feb. 5, 15927 2 She'Jet-S-Sheet 2 kel() Patented Dec. 25, 192e.

UNITED 'STA-TES* PATE NT oFriCffEgf `wILLIp/.iiu A. csic-*rumor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assienon To W. n. Minna, iii-Ici, or"

oHIcAefo,V ILLINOIS, CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

rBIeTIoN SHOCK-ABSORBING ivinciiiiNistri.y

Application ledebr'uary 5, 19,27, Serial No. 166,058'. Renewed November 7, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanism. l

i One objectof. the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism especia'lly adapted for railway-draft riggings, i including a column element inthe form of` a casing provided with a plurality of opposed Walls, certain of which have` frictionpsurfaces and a friction wedge systemco-Oper- 10 ating therewith, whereinfthe friction V,systemV vis maintained in spaced relation withfreference to the walls of the shellwith whichit does not frictionally co-operate to .prevent wearofthe casingggY Another object of the invention is` toprovide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the character indicated, includingA a vreceV tangular frictionshellhaving two :opposed walls provided with friction surfaces with 2o which fio-operates africtioii system'including friction shoes anda wedge member, wherein means isprovided for confining the wedge member and friction shoes togrela'tive y longitudinal movement only, thereby preventing displacement ofthe friction system and eliminating wearV and `damage to the friction shell. Y Y* 4 y A more specific object ofithe inventionis to provide a friction shoclrabsorbing mechanism including a rectangular friction shell provided with detach'able liners presenting opposed interior friction surfaces,l the friction system vco-operating with the liners, ykin-` vcluding friction shoes and a wedgemember, wherein thewedge and shoes arelprovided with co-operating means to limit the Hrelative movement .thereof in a directionlongitudinal ofthe gear, and wherein the liners"y and the walls with which the liners engage are provided with interengagingnieans, and the linersl and the i friction shoes `are also provided with interengaging means, tolimit the relative movement. of the liners andshoes to a direction longitudinal'ofgthemechanism and prevent displacementiof the liners from central position with reference tothe inactive wall surfaces of the frictionshell.

ventioii will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

, 'f In the drawings, forming a partfofthis specification, Figurel is ahorizontal lon- ,f g'itudinalV sectional,y view of arailway dra-ft of the ywedgev member employedqinconnection with Vmy improved mechanism illuss tratedin Figuresl', 2 and` Figure is a perspective view of one of the friction shoes employed in connection with `said mechanism. Figure 6 is a front elevational Vview partly broken away, of myv improved frictioifil shock absorbing mechanism illustrating a dilferentembodiment of; the invention. 'f And Figure 7 is aV horizontal sectional viewy correspondingsubstantially to the line 7 -7 of Figure 6,. i y i Y In saiddrawings, lO-lO indicate channel-shaped Acenter or draft sills `of arailway car underframe, to the inner surfaces of which are secured the usual front stop lugsV llfll and the rearstop` lugs 12-12 The 'inner end portion ofthe drawbar is .designated by 13, to which `is operatively connecteda hooded yoke le ,of well known form.

The shock absorbing mechanism proper as well as a front main follower legis disposed within the yoke and tlieyolre and thel parts supported therewithin are maintained in operative position by 'a detachable saddle Vplate 16 fixed to the draft, sillsv f- `Referring rst tof-the embodiment ofthe invention.y illustratedin Figures ll to ,5,in-

clusive,my'` improved shock absorbing mech-` anism proper comprises broadlyza spring..

cage A; a wedge block B; two friction shoes C-C; two,liners-D--Dgy a spring follower E; a main-spring resistance; Fg and a 'retainer bolt GQ f stantially rectangular box-like casting` having atransverse vertically` disposed rear end wall 17vertically disposed spaced side walls Y it-18, and horizontallydisposed spaced top .andbottomwwalls'19. The end wall l? `co- -Other objects and advantages of the inz ontallydisposedribs which areformed in-` tegral with the rearwall 17 ofthe cage, the

The spring cage A is inthe formof a sub.-

rear wallbeing extended laterally beyond the sidewall 18,0fsaid cage. ,-'llieside ywalls 18 are thickened at their forward end and are cut away as indicated at 2O in Figures 1 and 3, thereby leaving inwardly extending flanges or ribs 21-21 at the outer` end of the cage, having substantially flat ver tically disposed inner faces. Rearwardly of to present grooves 22. The walls of the cut out portions 2O and the grooves 22. are of substantiallyV V-sliape as most clearly sliowni iii Figure 3. l

The liners D which are two in number, are of like construction, each being in the forni of a. relatively heavy plate having a flat abutment face 121 at the forward Vend thereof adapted to co-operate with the rib 21 of the cage and having a. face 23 of V- section rearwardly of the face 121 corresponding in outline to the groove 22 and cut away portion 20 ofthe corresponding side wall 18 of the cage. It will be seen that each liner when assembled with the cage is held against longitudinal movement by the rib 21 and the gioove 22 with which, the corresponding parts of theliner co-operate and is maintained in central position on the side wall of the cage by the co-operating inter-engaging V surfaces on, the liner and the cage. On the inner side, each liner is provided with a longitudinally disposed friction surface 2e which-is also of V shaped section, as most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The ii shaped friction surfaces 24 of the opposed liners are preferably converged inwardly of the mechanism as most clearly illustrated in Figure 1. At the inner ends, the liners protrude inwardly beyond `the corresponding side walls of the cage so as to present transverse abutment surfaces which co-operate with `the spring follower E to limit outward movement lof 'i the latter.

The wedge B is in the form of a relatively heavy block having a slightly convex cyliiidrical end face 25 adaptedto bear on the inner surface of the front followerV 15.

the inner end, the wedge block B is provided with a pair of inwardly conv-erging wedge faces 26 and 27, the vwedge face 2T being disposed at a relatively keenwedge actingl angle with respect to tlie longitudinal axis of the mechanism and the wedge face 26 being disposed at a relatively blunt releasing angle with reference' toA said aXis. Although these two wedge faces are shownA as disposed at different angles in the pres! ent disclosure of t-he invention, it will be evident that the same may be disposedV at the same angle with reference to the axis of the mechanism. As most clearly shown in Figures 1 and il, the wedge faces26 and'27' are substantially flat and as shown in Figures 2, r3, and 4 terminate sho-rt of the top and bottoinsides of the wedge block, thereby leaving top andbottom horizontally disposed shoulders 28-28 at opposite sides of the wedge for a purpose hereinafter described,

The `friction shoes C-C, which are'two in number, are disposedat opposite sides ofthe mechanism and are interposed between tlie the ribs 21, the cut out sectionsare formed wedge B and t-he liners D. Each of the frictionlshoes has ai longitudinally disposed outer friction surface 124 which is of V ing friction surface 2a of one of the liners D. On" the inner side', eacliof the shoes C is provided with an enlargement 29 having a. wedge face at the' forward side thereof. The wedge face of theshoewhicli co-opei'- ates with the wedge face 26 of the wedge block B| is indicated by 126`and is disposed at 'arelatively blunt Aangle tov correspond with the wedge Vface 26 whil-ethe wedge face of the shoe() which co-operates with the keen wedge `face27l of the wedge block B is designated by 127 'and is disposed at a relatively keen angleto correspond-with the wedge "face 2T, TheY wedge faces 126 and 127 are both substantially flat throughout. Above andv below thefwedge faces, eaclrshoe is providedfwith inwardly vprojecting lioii# limited toinoveinent in a. direction longitu`l dinal ofthe mechanism, andi, held against displacement in a vertical direction. By

providing the t-shaped'co-perating faces on the liners and thel cage A, these parts will when the mechanism alsoireniaincentered assembled.

yFrom the? foregoing' description, itk will beevident thatby the .arrangement of interg engagingpartsoncthe wedge block B, the friction 'shoes (ol-{- andthe liners D, the

entirefriction systempwill be maintained inl spaced relationto the top and bottoni walls, thereby'preventiiig wear of the top and/bottoni surfaces ofthe friction shell and thus adding materiallyto the life of :the latter.

`rlhespringfollower E is sin the form of a heavy flanged ring having the flange there? of bearing on the inner endsv off the liners D, thereby-limiting the outward movement ofthe vspringf-follower.` Theouter endof the ring section of the spring followe-rfbeais on the inner ends ofthe friction shoes.

The main,- spring resistance F comprises a relativelylieifivy outer-coil and a lighter inkner coil. ',Theiniierlcoil has .thefront end 17 of the spring cage/and the nut thereof anchored-to the .wedge block B.. Theretainer bolt not only Aholds the parts as-y sembled, but. also maintains the f spring resistance element E Vunderinitial compression.

Due to the initial compression' 4,under which' the main spring is held,-the wedge, friction shoes and linersNvill alwaysbe maintained underlateral pressure and heldin centered position. Compensation for wearrof the various friction and wedge faces fisalsopirovided by the expansive action of the spring resistance means wliich, as hereinbefoie pointed out, isunder initial compression.

The operation of my improved shock ab sorbing mechanism, assuming a compressionl stroke, is as follows: The front follower-l5 and the cage A will be moved lrelatively toward each other, thereby .causing the wedge block B to be carried inwardly of the cage, setting up a wedging action between the block and the friction slices C and also carrying the shoes inwardly ofthe spring cage along the frictionsurfaces of the liners D, compressing the mainspring resistance F. inasmuch as the interengaging surfaces of the friction shoes and the liners are of V-shape, and the friction sho-es ai'e provided with flanges which overhang they wedge block, the parts will be confined tolongitudifV nal movement only, thereby preventing engagement of the top and bottom sides of the slices and Wedge with the 'top and bottom walls of the cage and eliminatingv wear of these parts as hereinbefore pointed out. When the mechanism has been fully compressed, the outer endof the cage will be engaged directly byr the main follower, thereby preventing undue compression of the main sp 1ing resistance, the casing A acting as ak solid column load transmitting member to transmit the shock directlyrto the draft sills. /Vh'en the actuating force is reduced, the expansive action 'ofthe spring resistance E will restore the friction shoesand Wedge block to the normal position shown in Figure 1. n Y By the provision' of the convex end face on the wedge block, contact between the cooperating wedge 'faces of the block and the shoes is assured, inasmuch as the Wedge is permitted sto vhave limited rocking movementoii the main follower. i .Referring next' to the embodiment of the invention illustrat'edin Figures 5 `is pointed outthat the general arrangement is substantially the same'as that illustrated in Figures l to o, inclusive, the mechanism comprising `a main wedge, friction slices, linersV detachably connected to the casing, and a. main spring resistanceopposing. movement ofthe friction shoes. `The embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 dii-harsl from that sliovvnyin Figures lr to 5,/incllusive, in that the cage andthe liners are providedwith a co-operating longitudinally disposed rib and groove to prevent the liners from being dis-- placed vertically with respect to the cage,

ln Figures G-an'dl, tliefriction shoe is indicated by C', ,the liner by D and tlieicasingor kcage'by A". The liners D are provided with V shaped frictionsurfaces which are` precisely the saine as the friction sur faces or ythe-,liners i) hereinbefore described and 'cosopeintev vifith similar vf-shaped-"friction surfaces on the shoesC. and thelinei's D are also provided with interengaging.'t1 shaped facesisimilar 'to the corresponding engaging faces on the casing vA and the liners Dhereinbefore described. Centrally of the u shaped faces of the side wallsfll of the cage A', longitudinally er tendingribs 40 are provided. The ribs as shown are preferably of curved cross section, although if-shaped or other forms of ribs may be employed. The liners D are provided with grooves l which are adapted to receive the ribs iO'to positively interlock theV liners D. with respect to the casing A 'against vertical displacement.

The operation and function of the inven-V tion illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is pre cisely the same as that of the embodiment of the rinvention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5,

inclusive. y

While lhave herein shown and described whatl now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the saine is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within theVV scope of the claims appended hereto.

l claim: f 4

`and 7, it

rlhe casing fi A l. Ina' friction shock absorbing mechanism, thel combination with a spring cagil havinga plurality of'side Walls, twoy of said side walls being opposed; of a spring resistance within .the cage;'a pair of detachable liners mounted on saidbpposed side walls; means for preventing relative longitudinalmovement of said liners and cage, said liners and side walls of 'the cage hav- -ing interengaging faces thereon for holding the liners centered on said walls; a pair of friction shoes co-operating with the liners; a Wedge block engaging said shoes, said Wedgebloclr and shoes having interengagingshoulders thereon for confining relative friction shell having top, bottom and sidey walls, said side walls being provided with detachable liners presenting opposed interior friction surfaces, said side walls and liners having interengaging ribs thereon for holding the liners against vertical displacement; of a pair of friction shoes having friction surfaces interengaging with the friction surfaces of the liners to hold said shoes and liners against relative vertical displacement and maintain the shoes spaced from the top and bottoni walls of the shell; a wedge block (1o-operating with the shoes, said block and shoes having interengaging means thereon e for preventing vertical displacement of the wedge and shoes andv maintaining the wedge spaced from the top and bottom walls of ythe shell; anda spring resistance means within the cage. e i

3. In a friction shock absorbing mecha nism, the combination with a spring. cage having `opposed side Walls and top and bottoni walls; ofa main follower, said main follower and cage being relatively movable toward and away from each other; a wedge block; a pair of friction shoes co-'operating with said wedge block, said shoes having top and bottom flanges overlianging the Wedge block, thereby limiting the wedge block and shoes to movement in a direction longitudinal of the mechanism; detachable liners anchored to the cage against longitudinal inovementsaid liners and shoes having cooperating V-shaped friction surfaces andthe interengaging faces of the side walls of the cage and the liners being formed to. hold said liners centered on ,said side walls; and `a main spring resistance opposing inward movement of the friction shoes.

In Witness that I claim the foregoingI vhave hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of January, 1927.

WILLIAM A. GEIGER. 

